May 25 – June 22, 2023

Celebrating 34 years of bringing beautiful music to Cape May, NJ.

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The Cape May Music Festival is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by donors like you!

OK CELLO

black man playing a cello outside

Thursday, May 25: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

Atlanta-based cellist-songwriter, looper, improviser and storyteller, Okorie “OkCello” Johnson’s work centers on themes and expressions of the African Diaspora, his personal truths, a deep love and celebration of women, and a commitment to musical prayer. Drawing upon his experience as a teacher and writer, OkCello immerses his audiences in vivid stories as well as songs, creating a richly layered and transcendent experience.

Drawing upon his experience as a teacher and writer, OkCello immerses his audiences in vivid stories as well as songs, creating a richly layered and transcendent experience.

ATLANTIC BRASS BAND

a female trombone player for the atlantic brass band

Sunday, May 28: 7pm
Rotary Park (rain location Convention Hall)

The Atlantic Brass Band, under the baton of Salvatore Scarpa, presents a program of rousing American music, the perfect finish to the Memorial Day Weekend. Co-sponsored by Cape May MAC and the City of Cape May.

FREE Admission. No purchase necessary.

ERICH CAWALLA

white man sitting on stool with saxaphone and drums in background

Tuesday, May 30: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall

Erich Cawalla is a nationally charting singer/saxophonist who many know as leader of The Uptown Band. In 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, he released his solo debut album “Erich Cawalla – The Great American Songbook” to stellar reviews. Erich has assembled an all-star band to perform some of the world’s most well-known hits from some of his top influences including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Smokey Robinson, Nat King Cole, and MANY MORE!

BACH’S LUNCHES AT WASHINGTON INN

3 violinist standing outside of the carriage house on the emlen physick estate getting read to play a bach's lunch

Wednesday, May 31, June 7 & 21 at 12:30pm
The Washington Inn

Enjoy a delicious luncheon at one of Cape May’s premier restaurants, the Washington Inn, followed by a mini-concert featuring members of the Bay Atlantic Symphony.

NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

two women playing music

Thursday, June 1: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

“June Baroque with the New York Chamber Ensemble”

Featuring J.S. Bach’s Triple Concerto for flute, violin and keyboard and works by Handel and Vivaldi.

JAZZ BRUNCH

Sunday, June 4: 10am
Inn of Cape May

The great tradition of jazz brunch is alive in Cape May! Enjoy selections from the Great American Songbook over brunch in the newly renovated Inn of Cape May, with Mary Lou Newnam on saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Ray Malach on piano.

NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

New York Chamber Ensemble playing during the Cape May MAC Music Festival

Tuesday, June 6: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

“The Heavenly Harp with Flute and Strings”

With Stacey Shames, harp
Gabriel Pierne: Variations Libre et Final: Quintet for flute, harp and string trio
Maurice Ravel: Ma mère l”Oye (Mother Goose) Suite
With works by Carlos Salzedo and Herman Beeftink

BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY

orchestra on stage

Thursday, June 8: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

“Tango and Tyrol”

Jed Gaylin, Conductor

Oswaldo Golijov: Last Round
Schubert Octet (chamber orchestra arrangement)

Argentine composer Oswaldo Golijov’s tribute to Astor Piazzolla––and therefore to tango––pulses with driving rhythm and languorous melody.  Its sexy urbanity contrasts completely with Schubert’s breathtaking lyricism of upper Austrian mountain airs and his jaunty peasant dances. Though written as an octet, Schubert’s marvel will be performed with chamber orchestra to honor his symphonic conception and scope.

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY
CHAMBER PLAYERS

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Tuesday, June 13: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

Wynton Marsalis: At the Octoroon Balls – String Quartet No. 1
Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11
Astor Piazzolla: Tango Ballet for String Quartet 

Héctor Falcón, violin
Bryan Hernandez-Luch, violin
Brett Deubner, viola
Nayoung Baek, cello

NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

New York Chamber Ensemble play at the cape may music festival

Thursday, June 15: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent

“A Schumann Masterpiece”

With Margaret Kampmeier, piano
Featuring Robert Schumann’s Piano Quartet, Op. 47 and works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Carlos Simon.

11th ANNUAL GEORGE MESTERHAZY
TRIBUTE CONCERT

George Mesterhazy

Sunday, June 18: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall

Barry Miles, Music Director

“A Little Help From My Friend George”

George’s close-knit musical colleagues share how George enriched their lives as they entertain us with selections from the Great American Songbook and beyond.

BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY

orchestra on stage

Thursday, June 22: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall

“Starry Stories”

Jed Gaylin, Conductor

With Kimberly Reighley and Rong Tan
L’amant anonyme Overture, Symphony No. 2: Joseph Bologne
Concerto for Flute and Harp: Mozart

Two touchstone works by Mozart of tremendous depth, color, and expression form the pillars of this program. Bay Atlantic Symphony flutist Kimberly Reighley and harpist Rong Tan join us on this sumptuous concert for full orchestra. We open with a wonderfully textured overture by French Creole violin virtuoso and composer Joseph de Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

More About Music

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More About Music: Composers of the 2023 Cape May Music Festival 

May 3rd: 12 pm

Sure, you’ve probably heard of Bach, Schubert, and Mozart. But most of us aren’t as familiar with Pierné, Golijov, Barber, or Bologne! As our Cape May Music Festival kicks off, Dr. Brenda Leonard familiarizes us with some of the less-well-known composers whose works are being performed in the next few weeks. Perhaps you’ll find a new favorite!
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More About Music: Mozart’s Last Symphony, the Jupiter

THURSDAY Jun 22nd: 12 pm

The last concert of our Cape May Music Festival will end with a performance of the last symphony of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – his 41st. Join Bay Atlantic Symphony conductor Jed Gaylin and symphony cellist and MAC Museum Educator Brenda Leonard for an in-depth look at this landmark composition. We’ll talk about what to listen for in each of the four movements and how the symphony acquired its nickname, “the Jupiter”. Have lunch with us, then plan to attend the performance at 7pm at Convention Hall!

2023 Cape May Music Festival Business Donors

SOLO SPONSORS

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DUO SPONSORS

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TRIO SPONSORS

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Past Virtual Concerts

Alone and TogetherVivaldi, Godard, and Brahms

“Shifting Passions”

“Bounce & Ballads”

“In the Moment”

“Serenades & Dreams”

“A Musical Holiday Celebration: Traditions From Home & Abroad”